National Park Service volunteer conducts a tour of The Grange, Hamilton Grange National Memorial

Guided tours are the only way to see the furnished upper floor of Alexander Hamilton’s summer house, The Grange. Tours are given multiple times each day and last approximately 30 minutes. There is a limit of 14 people per tour, and all spots are taken on a first come, first served basis. Sign up in the Visitor Center, which is on the lower floor of the house. A tour schedule is given on the National Park Service’s Operating Hours and Seasons web page for Hamilton Grange National Memorial.

The National Park Service suggests arriving at least 30 minutes before tour times to have a good chance of getting a spot. If you do have to wait until a subsequent tour, you can kill time by reading through the information in the lower floor exhibit room and watching the park film about Alexander Hamilton, or you can take a walk in St. Nicholas Park where the house is now located (it has been moved twice since being completed in 1802).

Rear of Alexander Hamilton’s summer home, The Grange, at Hamilton Grange National Memorial

If you have a non-educational group of ten or more, you must submit a registration form at least two weeks in advance. Send an email to hagr_info@nps.gov for more information. Those with school groups can get more information on the National Park Service’s For Teachers web page. Keep in mind that school groups are given priority to the early tours on Wednesdays through Fridays, so if you are planning to come during the school year at these times, call the park to see if public tours are being held. The phone number is (646) 548-2310.

Backpacks and large bags are not allowed on the tour. Photography is allowed without a flash.

There are three rooms to see on the tour of The Grange. One room is Hamilton’s study. Though he had an office in downtown New York, which took an hour and a half to reach by carriage—long distance commuting is nothing new—he did keep an office in his summer home as well. In addition to doing some work, he used it as his reading room. Some of the books on display were actually owned by Hamilton. The large desk is a reproduction of Hamilton’s original desk, which is now in the Museum of the City of New York. The lap desk is also a reproduction of Hamilton’s original lap desk that is now in the Smithsonian Museum. This could be folded and taken with him to his office.

Reproduction of Alexander Hamilton’s lap desk in the study of The Grange, Hamilton Grange National Memorial

Reproduction of Alexander Hamilton’s desk is on display in the study of The Grange, Hamilton Grange National Memorial

The dining room is furnished per the time period. The only original items are the silver plateau that sits at the center of the table and one of the water pitchers. A wine cooler located on the credenza is a reproduction of a gift that George Washington gave to the Hamiltons.

Reproduction of a wine cooler given to Hamilton by George Washington sits on the credenza in The Grange’s dining room, Hamilton Grange National Memorial

The third room visited on the tour is the parlor. It is here that guests were entertained before and after dining. Half of the chairs are original to the home, while the others are identical reproductions. The piano forte belonged to Hamilton’s daughter, Angelica. Hamilton had seven children. His eldest son, Philip, was killed in a duel three years before Alexander was himself killed in a duel by Aaron Burr. After Philip’s death, Angelica fell into such despair that she became mentally ill and lived out her life in a mental hospital. She had the piano with her during this time.

Parlor of Alexander Hamilton’s summer home, The Grange, Hamilton Grange National Memorial

Chairs and table in the parlor of Alexander Hamilton’s summer home, The Grange, Hamilton Grange National Memorial

There is also an exhibit in the hallway about the restoration of the house and its move from next to St. Luke’s Church to its new location in St. Nicholas Park. A video shows the actual move and renovation. The tour pauses to watch the five-minute video.

Exhibit on the upper floor of The Grange details the house’s renovation and relocation, Hamilton Grange National Memorial

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